Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-11-19
LAMAR AND SPARKS.

90
Some Red-Hot Correspondence
on the Subject.
Secretary Lamar has addressed long
letter to Commissioner Sparks in which
the resignation Of the latter is asked for.
At the same time the secretary has
taken the precaution to see the president
and demand the removal of Sparks.
The s~ecretary's letter closes as follows {:
"HoweYer we may differ in our con.
struction OF the statutes or of decided
cases, and whatever variance may ex
ist in our conception Of our public du-
ties, I am constrained to say to you that
there is obyiouslyone point upon which
we are in thorough accord. Upon this
point you haye succeeded in the COM
m%unication before me in rlveting on my
mind aprofound conviction. The prac-
teal effort Of your present course is
that you cannot execute my orders and
follow my instructions and cooperate
in my administration without surren-
dering opinions which should be con-
scientiously entertained with reference
to vital important interests. / am as
sincere as you can be in the profound
conviction that my instructions 10 you
are III exact accordance with the law of
congress, in line with the decision of
the courts, and In support Of the su.
premacy of law and its i%nviolability. II
is impossible for me, in contravention
of my W opinion, arrived at after long
and anxious study, to surrender them
TO you.
"Under these circumstances it is due
to orderly and decorous administration
of the government, to important pub.
lie interests, and the common cause con-
fided in part to Jul hands by the presi-
dent and to the personal regard that we
should both entertain for him that he
shall be allowed to choose 81 secretary
of the interior who will conform his ad-
ministratlon to you opinions, or to ap.
point q commissioner of public lands
who will administer his bureau in har-
mony Of spirit and concert of action with
the chief of the department and without
putting him to the necessity of more
decisive action on his part. This alter
native 1 shall submit to the president at
the same time that this paper will be
handed to you"
HE RESIGNS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Commission-
or Sparks laid his resignation before the
president to-day. 1t is u lengthy docu-
ment, reciting the causes of difference
Of opinion between himself and Secreta-
ry Lamar. The ground on which Sparks
resignation was demanded was insubor-
dination. Sparks claims that the issue
was n of legal construction, in which
he MAS right and Lamar wrong. His let
ter to the president closes as follows:
'"This diversion of the issue from one
of legal construction, to of authority
and characterization, is the substitution
ola farce for argument, a diversion of the
public mind from tho merits of the case,
and II not resisted by me in this pre-
sentation to you, would be the suppress
sion by that power Of a proper and con
sideratc effort on my part, as the com.
missioner of the general land Office, to
secure, in the public interest, an impair.
tial hearing before the secretary Of the
interior, on a purely legal question affect
ing the administration Of the Office with
which I am charged. The office of COM
missioner Of the general land office. has
boon n Of intense labor, imposing
constant sense of high responsibility;
having sought it at your hands, I / have
continued to hold it only out Of a sense
of duty, with a view to affecting some
good to the public. I haye endeavored
to discharge my full duty in it, in the
face of many discouragements, and much
calumny II abuse, from those whose
interests were to defeat tho policies pur.
sued. l have belieyed my line of action
to be correct, and thought I had reason
for the belief that it met your approval
"Ifthese decisions ~foreshadow q change
in official policy q this subject, know.
AAAH WA w A4bV LA lkSAkkx AL xdCtICA
application, I could not Of course with
my Of duty be tho instrument tc
effect.the change, having ever, as now,
regarded the commission I hold from
you as subject to recall, and desiring
: to relieve you of any possible embar,
rassment, l herewith tender my resigna
ton of the office of commissioners of the
general land Office and ask its early &C
ceptance and in thus seyering my con
nection with your administration, I bes
to assure you Of my earnest wish tina
the same wisdom, tirmness and integrit,
which has b u far so eminently marked
your administration may continue tt
enhance you in the estimation of you
countrymen."
Plain Talk.
Churohs Ferry Sun.
It behooves liquor dealers in thi
county who have their own interests a
heart to see that the law in regard t
selling liquor is strictly obeyed. An OF
ganized effort on the part Of the prohi
bitionlsts would undoubtedly demollsI
the small majority given "for the sale
last Tuesday, and unless the saloon
are handled carefully the coming yea
prohibition will carry in 1888. Nothin
would tend so strongly towards awakin
a public sentiment against them az a
lowing gambling and koopinx opop q